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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><a name="_Hlk106792081"></a><a name="_Hlk50625707"></a><a name="x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir LT Std 55 Roman",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><img width="148" height="148" style="width:1.5416in;height:1.5416in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01D88630.DC15AD70" alt="A close up of a sign
Description automatically generated"></span></b></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Avenir LT Std 55 Roman",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><a name="_Hlk86910929"></a><a name="_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">NEWS
RELEASE</span></b></span></a></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">For
Immediate Release Date: 06/22/22</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Contact:
Public Information Office Phone: (919) 560-0000/Fax: (919) 560-0020</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">E-mail: </span></b></span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov</span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><u><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:3.0in;text-indent:.5in;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham
County Leaders Share County Priorities with State Leaders at County Assembly Day</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham,
N.C. – </span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk86910929"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50627857"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk50625707"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">On
Tuesday, June 14th, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and House Majority Leader John Bell of the North Carolina General Assembly addressed county commissioners and officials in Raleigh for the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC)
County Assembly Day. Following the morning speaking program, commissioners visited legislative offices to advocate on behalf of counties.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">County Assembly Day is an annual event that
provides a platform for county commissioners and county officials to hear from state leaders and discuss the issues affecting their communities.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">In attendance were Board of Commissioners
Chair Brenda Howerton, Vice Chair Wendy Jacobs, Commissioners Heidi Carter, Nimasheena Burns and Nida Allam. They were joined County Manager Dr. Kim Sowell and General Manager Deborah Craig-Ray. In separate meetings, the group met with Durham lawmakers Rep.
Marcia Morey and Rep. Vernetta Alston where they discussed priorities in the upcoming state budget and a few local legislative goals.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">NCACC President Frank Williams spoke on
the opportunities provided through this historic funding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">“County commissioners throughout North Carolina
recognize their responsibility to utilize these funds in a way which positively impacts the citizens we serve,” said Williams. “That’s why Counties are taking a deliberate, strategic approach to thoughtfully identify which projects these funds should support.
That’s also why the NCACC is working to provide technical assistance to help Counties comply with the complex federal paperwork and documentation requirements associated with ARPA funding.”
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Senate President Pro Tempore Berger delivered
remarks, highlighting the importance of leveraging funding opportunities to support North Carolina's infrastructure,
<i>stating</i> that “The General Assembly has prioritized increasing funding for the state's infrastructure, including expanding access to high-speed internet. It is our goal to have access to reliable broadband internet in all 100 counties. Our strategy for
accomplishing that is the GREAT Grant program, which leverages public and private dollars to bring broadband internet to underserved areas of our state.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">House Majority Leader Bell thanked county
commissioners for their service and counties' strategic investments stating, "North Carolina has had a great two-year budget, and many counties have taken advantage of these monumental funds. It is great to see counties invest those dollars in broadband and
water and sewer projects, because it's those types of investments that lead to economic development across the state in our metropolitan and rural areas."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">About the NCACC:</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">
<i>The </i></span></span><a href="https://www.ncacc.org/"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
(NCACC)</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> is the
official voice of all 100 counties on issues being considered by the General Assembly, Congress and federal and state agencies. The Association provides expertise to counties in the areas of advocacy, research, risk management and education and leadership
training.</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">###</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106792081"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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